Washboard.



No. 65l,099. Patented lune 5, I900.

0. BISHOP.

WASHBOAR'D.

(Application filed June 28, 1899.)

(N0 ModeL) WH'NESSES: INVENTOR W h BY '%TORNEYS NITED STATES CHARLES BISHOP, OF NElV-ARK, NElV JERSEY.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,099, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed June 28,1899. Serial No. 722,116. (No model.)

To all whom itmcty concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES BISHOP, a citi-,

Improvements in Washboards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to facilitate the operation of washing clothes, and particularly of applying the soap thereto, and to secure other advantages and results,' some of which may be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved washboard and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth and finally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved washboard. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken at line cc, Fig. 2.

In said drawings, a a indicate the side pieces or uprights of the washboard, and between which is inserted the corrugated or ribbed rubbing-surface b, which may be of wood or metal of any ordinary construction,

the said rubbing-surface being arranged between the horizontal connecting-pieces or cross-bars c c, which cross-bars extend from upright to upright and are held firmlyin position in any suitable manner.

Above the upper cross-bar c is arranged the sliding brand-board d, the vertical side pieces or uprights a a being provided with slideways e, and at the top ends of the uprights or side pieces is also arranged a top piece f, which connects the said vertical pieces and holds them in proper position against spreading in any suitable manner. Said slideways e for the brand-board preferably comprise strips of metal set edgewise in the inner sides of the uprights, as shown in Fig. 3, and projecting sufficiently to enter grooves d in the edges of the brand-board.

The brand-board. d'and the upper crosspiece 0 are each provided with ribbed surfaces at their contiguous edges, as at g g, and adapted to clamp and hold a cake of soap, as h. The cake of soap having been inserted into place, the said brand-board d is firmly held in relation to said soap cake by means of a wedge i, adapted to be forced between the upper edge of the brand-board and the lower side of the top piece f. Thus by simply first inserting the soap between the brandboard and the upper cross-piece and then pressing the wedge 2' between the top of said brand-board and the top piece f the said soap is held firmly in position. Inasmuch as the brand-board is arranged in slideways at its opposite ends, it maintains a parallel relation with the cooperating clamping jaw or face of the cross-piece a, so that the cake or bar of soap is held with equal firmness at opposite ends, as will be understood. The said soap is arranged longitudinally in place, as described, and thus presents a long soaping surface to the clothes in the hands of the person engaged in washing, the projecting soap being so disposed as that by each up movement of the hands with the clothes a portion of the clothes will come into contact with the soap, and thus the clothes will be constantly supplied therewith without any special care or loss of time in the soaping operations. As the forwardly-projecting edge of the soap is worn away by use the cake is readjusted in the clam ping-jaws and set farther forward to present a new supply.

The opening in the washboard for the soap extends entirely through said board, the one opening receiving the soap, so that the latter may be used in connection with washing operations on either side of the board without changing the position of the soap. The clearthrough extension of the opening also enables a new and thick bar or cake of soap to be clamped in position without projecting un duly out from the washing-surface.

In connection with the Washboard Iprovide a suitable splash-boardj, which extends at substantially right angles to the brand-board, the said splash-board being disposed, preferably, below the top, so that the water cannot be thrown thereon and drip from the'projecting ends to the floor or upon the worker. This splash-board may be of any usual construction and preferably is pivotally supported by links or armsjj, so that it may be changed from one side of the washboard to the other as said board is turned at the pleasure of the operator. It will also be seen that the soap may be caused to project for use at either side of the board, as desired, the reserve part of the cake, if any, projecting back of the board atthe unused side.

By means of the wedge and sliding brandboard I can very readily when necessary release the soap from the board, so that the same can be employed in the usual manner in soaping the clothes.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is- 1. The improved washboard herein described having a rest for the soap, a clampingboard arranged at its opposite ends upon slideways and being adapted to slide in the plane of the washboard to engage the soap, and means for forcing said clamping-board against the soap, substantially as set forth.

2. In a washboard, the combination with uprights a, Ct, cross-pieces c, c, rubbing-surface b, and top piece f, of a brand-board sliding vertically between said uprights and a wedge adapted to be inserted between said brand-board and top piece to force the brandboard downward to hold the soap, substantially as set forth.

A Washboard transversely apertured above the corrugated rubbing-surface, and adapted to receive at the lower part of the opening a cake of soap, a brand-board sliding vertically in the upper part of said opening, and means for forcing said brand-board downward against the soap, substantially as set forth.

4. A washboard, having above its corrugated rubbing-surface a cross-piece forming at its upper edge a clamping-jaw, and being apertured above said cross-piece to receive a cake of soap and permit its use from opposite sides of the board, a brand-board sliding vertically in said aperture and adapted at its lower edge to engage the soap, a fixed top piece above said opening and brand-board, and a wedge inserted between said top piece and brandboard, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of June, 1.899.

CHARLES BISHOP.

\Vit-nesscs:

CHAnLEs II. Penn, 0. B. Prrnnv. 

